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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What was the Potala that Messner spied sitting on the Marpori in the Tibet chapter?i
(a) A palace.
(b) A castle.
(c) A home.
(d) A fortress.

2. On what day did Messner leave Nena behind at the base camp and begin his ascent of Mount Everest?
(a) August 4.
(b) August 18.
(c) July 4.
(d) July 18.

3. After erecting his tent on the second day, how many pictures did Messner take before abandoning photography and climbing into his tent?
(a) Two.
(b) Eight.
(c) Four.
(d) Ten.

4. Why had no Tibetans ever considered climbing the gigantic summits that were all around them?
(a) It was too expensive.
(b) The mountains were the home of the gods.
(c) It was simply too dangerous.
(d) The mountains were not to be tamed.

5. According to Messner in the Tibet chapter, how long after landing in the Tsangpo valley did he expect it would take to reach Lhasa by jeep?
(a) Two days.
(b) One hour.
(c) One day.
(d) Two hours.

Short Answer Questions

1. When Messner falls through a crevasse in the Chomolungma chapter, how far down does he fall?

2. As Messner climbed in the Chomolungma chapter, he felt better than ever climbing above 7000 meters. What caution did Messner give himself?

3. When the Dalai Lama fled from Tibet, where did the Dalai Lama go?

4. What does Potala mean?

5. According to the Chomolungma chapter, how far of a hike was it from the standing camp and the high camp?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe what a monsoon is.

2. According to Nena in the Tibet chapter, why would Messner's solo ascent be lessened if he took a walkie-talkie with him?

3. As Messner studied the North Col, what did he hope would hold true based on the sixteen year weather cycle?

4. In the Tibetan chapter, what were the two kinds of money Messner described during his time in Peking?

5. During the Cultural Revolution, what were the "Four Ancients" that the Chinese tried to destroy?

6. In the Tibetan chapter, why did Uemura want to scale Mount Everest in the winter?

7. How did Messner react in the Chomolungma chapter when he escaped the crevasse alive?

8. As the expedition rested at the start of the East Rongbuk Glacier in the North Col chapter, Nena wrote in her diary that she was disillusioned with humanity. Why?

9. As Messner began his ascent of Mount Everest in the Chomolungma chapter, suddenly reaching the summit was not important to him. Explain why reaching the summit lost its importance.

10. As Messner's team traveled back to the base camp in the Rongbuk chapter, what did he notice as he looked at the mountains that made Messner hopeful?

(see the answer keys)

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